I used to be an independent consultant, and my partner worked in the upper corporate world. My work dried up after T took office since I did government-parallel work. Hard to complain, because it was unethical and I didn’t like earning income via gov. contractors anyway, but it was what I stumbled into years earlier. My partner is a POC and hit the glass ceiling, and then became promptly burnt out and had to quit for mental health reasons.
We lost our house a year later, had to sell everything, and suffice it to say we ended up in Latam, where we are now. But we’ve been looking for work for going on almost two years now, and I can’t find shit. I’m in my late 30s and I have no clue what to do. Savings won’t last forever.
So anyway, what do all of you do? Who in gods name is making livable income these days? I haven’t had a single phone interview in who knows how long. I have 3-4 friends back home who’re also out of work, and are doing basically what I am: winging it until their savings dries up. The only thing I have on track is that I re-enrolled in school, and around next summer when I graduate will shoot for an English teaching position in China. If I can survive that long anyway.
Your long-term plan is good, you just need to figure out something for the short term. Try budgeting your month and try applying anything you can get your hands on, even if it’s just stacking boxes. When I had similar issues I got 3 friends together and rented a house. It wasn’t the best situation, but at least we could afford the rent, bills and groceries that way until we figured something better.
There’s a bunch of jobs that aren’t advertised online. Just walk into shops/bars/restaurants and ask if they are hiring. It probably won’t be good pay, but at least you’ll be getting something to get by. Also try asking people you know if they know anybody hiring.
If you can teach, then you can also try tutoring. There’s always someone failing some exam or other or not doing well at school. If tutoring isn’t a thing where you are, you can also try an online platform like Preply.
Capitalism sucks… I hope you find a way forward.
Typing and proofing essays is a great way to earn if you’re in a uni area. If you can stand nights in a bar or restaurant (extremely physically/mentally demanding, can be fun, depending) tips can really help if you treat them as regular pay and don’t spend out of cash tips until normal pay period.
Never heard of Preply, thanks. I’ve considered tutoring, though a bit hard with no references and such. I’d do the bar/restaurant thing, but since I’m not a citizen where I am, can’t work for a local company. So my only option really is to run something on my own. I’m hoping that once my classes start I can build some good relationships with my professors and find some part time remote academic work.